"I remember the days of old;

"I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands."   Psalm 143:5
 
 
Flowers, flags, parades and picnics.  This holiday we will remember.  Memorial Day is the time of remembering the more than 3.9 million men and women who have bravely given the ultimate sacrifice to guarantee our freedom -- their lives.  It is a day where, "We come, not to mourn or dead soldiers, but to praise them." ~Francis A. Walker
 
We are created with an amazing capacity to remember.  Sometimes our memories haunt us.  They are painful and filled with hurts that require a journey of deep healing.  Often the healing is about changing our focus from grievous experiences to the faithfulness of God.
 
It is interesting that the word "remember" is used over 150 times in the Bible.  Like the church of Ephesus in Revelations 2, we have the propensity to forget our first love -- to forget God -- to forget His fidelity and His faithfulness in our everyday life.  And like that church, the spirit of God calls us to remember.
 
Celebrating the good reminds us of His faithfulness, especially during the times of brokenness.
 
Prayer:
Father God, I cannot forget what You've done for me.  I cannot forget how You've set me free.  I cannot forget how You've brought me out. Lest I forget the agony You endured  at Calvary, I honor You with humble submission and joyful thanksgiving with my life.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.